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100 Musicians Answer the Same 10 Questions

Part Three: Drew Danburry

instigated by dave heaton

Drew Danburry's albums An Introduction to Sex Rock and Besides:are We Just Playing Around Out Here Or Do We Mean What We Say both showcase him as a songwriter with a great sense for pop melody, a willingness to bare his heart in song, and also a playful attitude about music. He's also one of those DIY musicians who seems to be touring constantly, going back and forth across the US and playing seemingly everywhere. MP3s and updated tour dates/news can be found on his MySpace page and website.

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What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?

The information age has really changed how everything works with music. On so many levels it's ridiculous. The possibilities are endless in so many aspects of music production and the ability to network and do things DIY. Despite the constant flow of uninteresting music in the world I think that the best music of all time is being written presently, songwriting's potential is becoming rather scary good and the competition and amount of people writing music, participating in music is really making things amazing, interesting and difficult. It makes things very challenging, and very exciting. The kind of music that is coming out from totally independent acts is jaw-dropping, all over the globe.

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

Stagnation, digression, playing a town and having an amazing show and then coming back a few months later for no one to be there. The large amount of people into music, with my arrogant opinion, to be talentless yet still praised and revered. People who don't question things and follow the surrounding opinions without asking why. People who don't explore and learn and grow. I think I might have left the subject of music in my tangent of what discourages me...

What are you up to right now, music-wise? (Current or upcoming recordings, tours, extravaganzas, experiments, top-secret projects, etc).

I'm in the middle of this seven-month tour. I'm writing songs and getting ideas for what I want to do with the next album coming up. Then I'll stop for a month or two to record. Then I'm going to Europe to travel and play shows. I'm in the middle of booking and meeting people for that. I'm giving all of the money I make selling cds and shirts to the banks that gave me the credit cards to get the cds and shirts made for this tour. I thank everyone profusely who has supported me in what I do. I'm also reminding myself how dependent I am on the kindness of others and thinking of how awesome people are. I know so many wonderful people across the country that are so beautiful and bring others such joy to be in their company and it's humbling and amazing. And I'm thinking about that right now, the general concept of hope and how wonderful it is, the many reasons we have to be happy and be hopeful and to be kind and good to other people without forgetting how much needs to be done and changed. I think I just went on another tangent. But I'm not hitting the backspace button, for the second time in this interview.

What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the show/recording?

I don't think I've ever really focused on the atmosphere affecting the sound so much as focused on the atmosphere and setting affecting the mood and the ability for the audience and I to connect. I also don't recall any weird places I've played. Dorm rooms, churches, houses, I dunno. But I've been recording a lot with a "my first sony", a little kids tape deck w/ microphone. It's been really fun and sounds surprisingly good. I like how it sounds, but I've never been good at describing sounds or... I'm horrible at answering this question.

In what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?

Of course. Your surroundings shape you. Your social settings create you. We react to the information we are presented with. Our world is what we know. It's inevitable and somewhat inarguable. I won't get into all the many details and all the many bands I've listened to but um, I've definitely been affected by all the different music I've listened to. I think more than anything I've been affected by the places I've lived and they've affected the way I see the world and the people that live in the world that I've known. And that's what I always write about. The people I know, the experiences we've had. The moments that stand out, the ideas and concepts that I think are important. As for musical taste, I think I've always just liked or not liked a song, and over time I've just decided what I like by exposure to a lot of different music. I kind of feel like every type of music has atleast one song that's likeable by everyone. At least I'd like to think so. There's always one hit that gets people into a genre or a certain style of music. Tangent.

When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about it?

A couple days ago a song came to me. I don't sit down and write songs, I usually have ideas running through my head and i guess the best way of saying it is at some point I'll just feel a spark about an idea or feel the need to write it down.... I always have to wait till the right time or else I end up hating it for some reason. It feels contrived, I just cant focus, it doesnt flow very well or the idea is just really choppy I guess. I dunno. but for the longest time I've been trying to write lyrics or songs in the perspective of Dumbledore, the character from the Harry Potter books, because Harry and the Potters and I have been discussing the idea of doing a split with me taking on the psuedonym of "Young Dumbledore", and a few days ago I started writing right before I started falling asleep and I think I'll go and play what I wrote, see if I remember it, or like it all. That's usually how I test songs. I write them and then come back to them days or weeks later...if i'm still feeling 'em I usually roll with it. If I can't remember them or don't like it, it's trashed.

As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is?

Yes. and I don't know, maybe we just become less tolerant of mediocrity or our idea of what good music is when it isn't being reached. We become more critical.

Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)

I don't. I'm not drawn to any specific genre. I could go from Wu-tang to The Golden Age, to Seve vs. Evan to the Shins and then to Ok Ikumi. Billie Holiday to Bob Dylan to Nikaidoh Kazumi, and then Tchaikovsky to Sam Cooke. I don't think genres serve as anything other than a way of categorizing things so people feel safe with what they know.

Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time favorite recordings by this band/musician?

How bout this?

Past: David Bowie - "Ashes to Ashes"
Present: Broken Social Scene - "Anthems for a Seventeen Year-old Girl"

But seriously, what's up with the Montreal area pouring out so much good music? Isn't everyone on the edge of their seat for the new Arcade Fire? If they can pull off an even better second album like the Strokes did then I'll be flabbergasted and amazed and downright proud of them.

What's the saddest song you've ever heard?

"Eternal Flame" - The Bangles

To check out the rest of the Q&As, click here.


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